Collegies

OVERVIEW

The Collegies app concept was designed to fill the gap as a bridge between students and college admission. The goal is to help students apply for colleges, and communicate directly with admission officers.

The goal of the project was trying to solve a common problem that impacts millions of students , and including myself at that time.

FunfactThis was my first app UI/UX design project, and I was trying to solve a problem that was in my way.

TIMELINE

2020

role

Solo school project

project highlights

UI/UX Design

App Design

project link

Figma

PROBLEM STATEMENT

How can we make the college application process be easier, more efficient, and less stressful for students?

THE SOLUTION

A single platform where students can research, apply, and communicate with colleges.

Design outcome

Where students can do research and compare colleges easily.

Students able to search colleges at their best convenient
Students are able to add compare colleges side by side and to see the different at glance

Where students can apply to colleges efficiently.

Students are able to apply colleges in minutes once account has been set up
Students are able to apply to multiple colleges in a efficient manner
Students are able to see their next step, and check the progress of their application

Where students can communicate to colleges effectively.

Students are able to communicate effectively with their college admission officers from different colleges.
Students would be able to send files through the chat features.

Research

project background

I believe there is a better way to make the college admission experience better.

A few years ago, I remember experiencing some anxiety during the college admission process. I remember thinking and asking myself is there another alternative to make it easier?

Credit: GSE, Havard

MARKET RESEARCH

There are helpful resources that are trying but just not enough.

No student research apps allow direct application. They present a lot of information, which may overwhelm students. Students must use all the material and submit regular college applications.

The undecided app let students connect to admission advisors.

Lack of features.
Before using any features, students must answer questions and engage with advisors.
The app's fundamental concept is wonderful, but most students can't afford to chat with advisors.

The Niche app offers a lot of information, maybe too much.

The structure can be overwhelming.
Too much information but no actions, can't talk to admission advisor.
The statistics may not be the most up-to-date, however, there are some valuable student reviews.

Interview

“ Sometimes I get anxiety dreams about college.”

A quote from a student

I had an assumption that most people have been stressed out by the college admission process. Interviewing some students could validate my assumption.

I discovered the college admission experience is one of the life events that do not occur often, people tend to move on quickly and their brains blocked the unpleasant experience.

Motivated Forgetting
When an individual uses defense mechanisms to get over or forget unwanted memories that are unpleasant in nature, either consciously or unconsciously, it is known as motivated forgetting.

The ones who get help from family or hire an agent have a better experience than the ones who don't.

90 % of people have a happy experience as a result of getting help from family & agency

80 % of people have an unhappy experience as a result of not getting help from family & agency

Those with privileges who get help from family are likely to have a smoother experience, particularly those who can afford an education agency to handle the majority of the preparation work, materials, and polish essays for them.
However, most people often have to conduct extensive online research, and do their own diligence. This becomes my opportunity, and motivation to make their experience as smooth as possible at no cost.

KEY INSIGHTS

A lot of stress

Overwhelmed with checking information from numerous sites, platforms, and log-ins.
More anxiety when applying for multiple colleges due to the fact that practically every college has a unique application process, procedures, and requirements.
Transfer students experience more anxiety due to credit transfer.
First-generation college student experience more obstacles.
The checklist image depicts if a student is going to apply to one college.

PERSONA

Hello, I'm Daniel.

Age: 18
‍Role: Soon High School Graduate
‍Interested in: Art Majors
‍From: Revere, MA
First-generation college student

Daniel is a soon-to-be high school graduate. He’s deciding where he should go to college. This is his first major life decision, and he is having difficulty organizing all of the information about the varying choices.

Paint Points

Email communication is ineffective
Overwhelmed by multiple sites, platforms, and log-ins
Applying to many schools can be stressful and time-consuming
Parents doesn't know much about college

Goals

Using organized information to help make the right college choices
Having confidence in his own decisions
Successfully navigating the admissions process
Having confidence in his own decisions

The solution

A single-stop applying to colleges.

A true one-stop destination for student college admissions, research, and productivity.

Design.

Brand idenitity

Final PRODUCT

Final Thoughts

What did i LEARN?

Do more research.

If I had to be honest, I regret that I didn't get the chance to do enough research. If I had another chance to start over, it would be my priority to focus.

It was a lot of learning about everything.

This project was my first UI/UX project, and my first time using Figma back in 2020. There was a lot of self-learning, I wasn't aware or familiar enough with all the research methodologies and tools that could have made this project to a higher level.

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